$600 parts list, thoughts?

[jon_e_33]

Hey all, it's been awhile but I am back to the PCmech and I just had a few questions for ya'll. I am looking to build a new computer to replace the one in my sig which is just *slightly* outdated, heh.

I am a college student on a budget of roughly $600 max, and for this new build I was hoping for a moderately decent gaming build. I realize I'm not gonna get top of the line with $600, but I was hoping to play some newer games. At the moment I mostly play World of Warcraft which I can run fine, but I am looking at some upcoming newer games and I can't run those at all with my computer.

After looking around Newegg and some other places, I kinda came up with this list of parts. Mostly, I am concerned about my motherboard, processor and video card, as well as my PSU. I don't care either Intel or AMD, but I went the AMD route as it seemed a tad cheaper. Intel's C2D does look hot, but I dunno if I can pull it off with $600. So far what I have costs $510 including shipping (this does assume rebates though). So, the cheaper the better, however I want this build to last a while before it becomes an office machine, so there is a little price leeway. Anyhow, this is what I've initially found:

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Windsor 2.4GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103749

Mobo: ASUS M2N-E SLI AM2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131096

PSU: FSP Group FSP400-60THN-R ATX 2.0 400W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104935

GPU: EVGA 256-P2-N768-A1 GeForce 8600GTS SSC 256MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130298

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145034
The RAM had a $40 mail in rebate on it; if I cannot get the rebate for time reasons I would downgrade to the CAS 5 same version RAM.

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148262

I already have a Samsung Syncmaster 205bw Monitor, as well as keyboard, speakers, and mouse. I have a copy of WinXP home that I could/would use, or I've thought about upgrading to Vista, probably in the future. Would it be a better choice to try and get Vista now? I also have CD-r and DvD drives as well as a case that I would recycle.

[Karnevil9]

From discussions that have been posted here, the consensus seems to be to wait awhile on Vista. At least until they release SP1.

You can get the Intel C2D E4500 and the Asus P5K Mobo for only about 60 dollars more. If you look around at other Mobo Makers you may be able to bring the price down more. I don't know if the Benchmark differences between the two CPU's would be worth the difference. Maybe someone more knowledgeable than myself can shed some light on that.

Another thought. The PSU and Hard drive from your original choice then get This video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130297
Corsair memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590
Intel C2D E6750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115029
Asus P5K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131189

I think I figured to about 609 dollars not counting the rebate on the ram right now. You may move down a bit on the Video Card, but move up a whole lot on the CPU. I don't game so video cards are not an area I am all that familiar with. However, My way of thinking is that the CPU and Mobo are the heart and soul of your system so my top dollars will be spent on them. Everything else is an add on that can be upgraded later if need be when I save up for them.

[andper10]

A gaming rig for $600 is very tough to do. What version of XP do you have, retail, OEM, or Upgrade? Sadly, you might end up having to buy a new OS. I doubt you will be able to play modern games well unless you get a setup like this. The PSU technically meets the power requirements for the 8800GT, but I personally don't know if I would try it.

$75 - E2140 - Slower than your AMD, but you can usually Overclock it by nearly 100% with stock voltage with the stock HSF, so if you are comfortable with it that is a good way to get a big preformance boost.

$87 - Asus P5B SE - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131213 - No reviewers confirming that it can overclock extremely well, so that motherboard is a toss up. You might want to play it safe and go with the P5K SE $105 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131189

$37 - FSP 400W PSU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104952 - This is another toss up. I would be most worried about this component causing problems. It has the specs to power the video card, but I don't know if it actually would. However, one reviewer said "This supply is running a E4300 @3Ghz with 8800GTS video just fine, no sweat."

$270 - 8800GT - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150252 - Out of stock and no shipment date yet. Might want to check other sites.

$41 after MIR - Corsair 2GB Cas 5 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590

$70 - Hard drive you picked

$580 before shipping, but you need to get that old copy of XP to work, and you need to have that PSU handle the 8800GT and you should OC the CPU to help it keep up with the video card. Like I said, big toss up, but it might be worth a shot. Again, one reviewer said "This supply is running a E4300 @3Ghz [big overclock] with 8800GTS video just fine, no sweat." Which according to my googling, that setup would actually take more power than an 8800GT and an E2140. That would be an amazing price if you could make it all work out.
Enjoy your partial build!

EDIT: Here are a few charts and an overclocking link:
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphi...=854&chart=318
http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_20...=884&chart=442
"comparisons between an E2140@3Ghz vs E6600@3Ghz show that the E6600 only just edges ahead from the E2140, while costing twice as much!" - http://www.overclock.net/hardware/sh...hp/product/631
Newegg reviewers report being able to OC it to 2.7-2.8Ghz with stock cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116037

[jon_e_33]

Thanks for the help Karn and andper10.

After thinking about it abit more, it seems that I'd want to spend more on the video card, as opposed to the processor, like was suggested. The 8800gt is a really nice card.

andper10, I've never overclocked really besides raising the bus speeds on the current processor I have, and my motherboard had an option to change that so it was super easy. I have no experience doing any hardcore OC'ing.

So, assuming I was not going to OC, what processor would seem to be the better choice? The Athlon 64 X2 4600+ is silmilar in price to the e2140 and beats both it and the C2D e4300 (C2D entry level is the other route I'd considered) that they have listed in the Tom's hardware drop down chart you listed. I'm not sure if the C2D e4500 Allendale would be more on par with the X2 4600+ or not, but it is a lot more money.

I suppose what I want to know essentially is this: "Is there another mobo/processor combo that would outperform what I have for less money, w/o OC'ing?"

Also, I definitely want to spend more and get a PSU that will power the PC; don't want to skim there. Can anyone give a recommendation of a PSU that would power this cheaply? I don't need much overhead as I probably won't do much upgrading of this machine.

And yah, my XP home should definitely work. I have the numbers and all the documentation, and it's only been activated like once.

Corsair 2GB Cas 5 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590 $41 MIR

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148262

8800GT - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150252 $270

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Windsor 2.4GHz $86
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103749

Mobo: ASUS M2N-E SLI AM2 $95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131096

All that adds up to $562 dollars without a power supply, so I'd have 40 some dollars for a PSU. Thanks again for all the help.

[andper10]

From what I have read you can overclock it from 1.6Ghz to at least 2.7Ghz by just raising the FSB, using the cooler that comes with it, I wouldn't call that hardcore overclocking. Just google E2140 overclock and you will find plenty of reviews and guides. I haven't used an AMD procesor in one of my own PC's before, so I guess that you should ask the other members who are familiar with the AMD camp about the preformance difference. I will keep looking for a PSU and tell you if I find one that looks good.

Here is an initial choice that I would trust:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139003 - Looks like 2 people have it running an 8800gts successfully from the reviews. I think its single 33A 12V rail would be better than the 2 18A on the FSP, but this one costs more. Plus this Corsair has Active PFC, which is good for high end video cards.
$66 Shipped from Buy.com if you create a new google checkout account: http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-vx-4...205466485.html

For about the same price after MIR you can pickup the 600w OCZ StealthXStream - $65 after MIR + Shipping: http://www.directron.com/ocz600sxs.html - This has more power and it is also on the top (blue) recommended list in the general hardware form: http://www.forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195

[Katreat]

If you are really sure about never up-grading this system then I think the AMD route would give you the faster low price rig. However, if you are willing to pop for the 8800 Gt then I would highly recomend going the intel route and just planning on a $100 CPU upgrade in a year or so. By then prices will have fallen and you would have a very decent gaming rig with something like a 6550 in it. AMD says their new processors are going to be backward compatable but they have also annouced a new socket already so I thin intel has the best potential for upgrade at this time.

If you are set on a lower end processor with no plans to upgrade, either AMD or INtel then I would really look at video card review because the 8800 GT might be bottlenecked by the lower end CPU which would just be a waste of money. I try to keep rigs in balance and with the processors you are picking I would tend to go with a little less powerful card, but I really dont know at what point the CPU bottlenecks the vid card so you will need to do a bit of reserch to find that out.

Kat